WIGAN'S goal supplies might have dried up of late but their beefed-up defence has been in a league of its own all season.

And in a further sign of the close working relations between the rival codes at the JJB, keeper John Filan and co have been only too happy to allow their big Warrior cousins to muscle in on their success.

The Latics rearguard is the Championship's most miserly, having conceded just 14 goals in 20 matches this season and the Aussie keeper reckons extra gym sessions under the supervision of the Warriors fitness gurus have brought huge dividends.

Strength and conditioning coach Nigel Ashley-Jones and his No 2 Joey Gallanagh have been working with the footballers since pre-season and Filan said: "I'm the fittest I've been in years and a lot of that is down to Nigel and Joey.

"They've got us doing weights and boxing, some of the things they've been doing in rugby league for years, but we're only now starting to see come into football."

Filan, an ever-present for Wigan since his é600,000 move from Blackburn three years ago and player of the year last season, is hopeful of extending his stay at Wigan when his contract expires in the summer.

He said: "It was always my plan to retire at 35 and return home to Australia but I'm feeling fit and playing well so I'd like to keep on going.

"The Premiership is where everyone wants to be, whether you're a young bloke starting out or an experienced player like me."